Paid less than colleagues for same job

[becca110903]

Hello, any help on the following matter would be greatly appreciated!
I work for a large, multi-national company. Recently, I have been told that I am earning less than colleagues who started a few months after me.
We all do exactly the same job.
I have raised this with my manager. They have told me that my colleagues had negotiated a higher starting salary at the point of hiring, which is why they earn more (it isn't a massive amount perhaps £500-£1000 more annually).
Is anyone able to tell me if this is legal please? I have found a lot of information around pay differences when doing the same job, but am unable to find whether they are legally allowed to pay me less as I hadn't negotiated more at point at hiring?

Yes they are allowed to pay different people different rates of pay.

Are you the only woman on the lower rate? Are males in higher?

How long have you all been there, and do you have regular pay reviews I.e. annually?

If you’ve not had a first pay review yet, I would probably wait but bring it up again in the review and ask for there to be consistency across the team (you could see if they might consider back-dating it, but they may decline). It’s fairly common for there to be a bit of pay disparity when new people join if the employer’s trying to match a competitor’s offer. However, a good employer will have a plan to address it within a reasonable timeframe.

There shouldn’t be significant differences for people doing the same role - but there might be a reason for it, if the split of responsibilities or experience levels is different. That would be fairly standard practice if, for example, you compare a brand new widget-maker to one who has a year’s experience.

If all the other people are of a different sex to you, you could think about an equal pay claim (https://www.acas.org.uk/equal-pay/advice-for-employees) but there are specific conditions to be met.

Unless it's clearly for a discriminatory reason, e.g. all middle-aged people are on a lower rate/openly gay people are paid less/staff in wheelchairs all paid less, they can do what they want.

That's why it's a contract negotiation. They come in low, you go higher, but if you go too high you push yourself out of consideration.

Absolutely legal
Do you have salary bandings where you work? £500/£1k sounds within banding
I don't think you have a keg to stand in tbh

I noticed this a few years ago when two of my team went off on maternity at the same time and their cover was advertised at a similar higher salary (an extra £800 pa I think it was). We all had different roles but at the same level in the team, and these two vacancies were being offered the same pay.

I raised it and they took the steps to bring it in line, so it can happen!

If it had just been one of the roles I don't think I would have questioned it though.

Can you not negotiate a pay rise? If you are doing the exact same job as your colleagues and some of those colleagues are men, would you not have a case for unequal pay (which is illegal) . Speak to CAB.

It's pretty standard where I work. I've just joined a new team at work and know I earn a fair bit more than my line manager. I wanted a move out of management and back to consultancy, so went on my existing terms and conditions.

I recruited into my previous teams at different rates. Last person in was paid around £5k more than the rest, as she had far more experience and was going to be able to do the job immediately, with no training requirements. We hit the jackpot with her, so paid accordingly.

It's such a minimal difference!

Thanks all for your help. I know that it is a minimal amount of money but I also feel strongly that it is unfair, as we have all started at a similar time/same job.

I will have a proper look through the suggestions and will take these forward. I have a meeting planned with my Manager so can out these points to him then.

Thanks again!